Independence City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 150
BUILDINGS
APPENDIX A: PROCEDURES FOR PROPERTY NUMBERING SYSTEM
1. Locate center point and establish an axis.
2. Establish intervals for residential and business.
3. Establish boundary of business section.
4. Measure off intervals along axis.
5. Even numbers on south and west, odd numbers on north and east.
6. Change blocks (100’s) at each intersection or right-of-way. (Use professional judgment).
7. Each street off of axis begins with 100.
8. Streets which begin one block from an axis starts with a 200 number, two blocks a 300 number, three blocks a 400 number, etc.
9. A looped street would receive numbers as if it were straight, i.e., numbers do not change with curves, even if odd numbers are no longer on the north and east or even numbers on the south and west.
10. A Y intersection does not constitute a block unless there is space for homes inside the triangle. Example:
11. House numbers are assigned as to where the primary entrance is located.
(1996 Code, § 83-Att-1)
§ 150.01 ADOPTION OF STANDARDS BY REFERENCE.
There is hereby adopted by reference in the town the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63, which became effective September 1, 1973 and updated in 2015, the provisions of which are adopted and shall control all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and all other functions which pertain to the installation of systems vital to all buildings and structures and their service equipment as defined by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63, and shall apply to existing and proposed buildings or structures in the town.
(1996 Code, § 79-1)
§ 150.02 JOINT OPERATION OF BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.
(A) The establishment of a Building Inspection Department shall be a project of the county and may be used by the Towns of Fries, Independence and Troutdale.
(B) All required inspections within the county shall be responsibility of the Building Inspection Department. The county shall be responsible for maintaining the Department, and the Department will be directly responsible to the Board of Supervisors.
(C) Fees will be collected and permits issued by the Inspection Department. All record of permits and fees shall be duplicated and forwarded to the locality in which the construction site is located, so each local government can maintain such records. Such fees collected will be credited to the account of the locality, and each locality shall be responsible for the difference in annual cost (decided by formula) and the amount of fees collected.
(1996 Code, § 79-2)
§ 150.03 FEE SCHEDULES.
The cost of enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63, within the town shall be defrayed through the levying of fees by the County Board of Supervisors as provided in VA Code § 36-105, as amended, and the ordinances duly adopted from time to time by the County Board of Supervisors.
(1996 Code, § 79-3)
§ 150.04 BOARD OF APPEALS.
The Board of Appeals as provided for in the ordinance duly appointed by the County Board of Supervisors shall have full authority and responsibility to function within the town limits of the town in conformance with the Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63.
(1996 Code, § 79-4)
§ 150.05 REMOVAL AND REPAIR OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES.
(A) The owners of property in the town shall at such time or times as the Town Council may prescribe remove, repair or secure any building, wall or other structure which might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of the town.
(B) The Town Council through its own agents or employees may remove, repair or secure any buildings, wall or any other structure, which might endanger the public health or safety of other residents of the town, wherein the owner of such property, after reasonable notice and reasonable time to do so, has failed to remove, repair or secure said building, wall or other structure.
(1) For purposes of this section, reasonable notice shall include a written notice mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, sent to the last known address of the property owner and published in a newspaper having general circulation in the town in accordance with applicable provisions of VA Code § 15.2-906.
(2) No action shall be taken by the town to remove, repair or secure any building, wall or other structure for at least 30 days following the later of the return of the receipt or the newspaper publication.
(C) In the event the Town Council, through its own agents or employees, removes, repairs or secures any building, wall or any other structure after complying with the notice provisions of this section, the cost or expenses thereof shall be chargeable to and paid by the owners of such property and may be collected by the town as taxes and levies are collected.
(D) Every charge authorized by this section with which the owner of such property shall have been assessed and which remains unpaid shall constitute a hen against such property ranking on a parity with liens for unpaid local taxes and enforceable in the same manner as provided in Article 3 (VA Code §§ 58.1-3940 et seq.) and Article 4 (VA Code §§ 58.1-3965 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1.
(1996 Code, § 79-5)
§ 150.06 VIOLATIONS.
Any person who shall violate any provision of the Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63, shall be punished as provided in VA Code § 36-106.
(1996 Code, § 79-6)
§ 150.07 COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTOR; JURISDICTION.
(A) Pursuant to an agreement setting forth the specifications for the County Building Inspector in the town, VA Code § 27-34.4 and the Uniform Statewide Building Code, being 13 VAC 5-63, within the corporate limits of the town, the county will set building permit fees and collect said fees for the services of the Building Inspector within the town.
(B) Revenues collected are to be applied against the salary of the Building Inspector.
(1996 Code, § 79-7)
§ 150.20 ADOPTION OF MAP.
The official numbers of properties and principal buildings within the town are hereby declared to be as shown on a map entitled “Uniform Property Numbering System, Town of Independence,” which is filed in the Town Hall. Such map and all explanatory matters thereon are hereby adopted and made a part of this subchapter.
(1996 Code, § 83-1)
§ 150.21 IDENTIFICATION OF PROPERTIES AND BUILDINGS.
All properties or principal buildings within the town shall, after April 24, 1980, be identified by reference to the uniform property numbering system adopted in this subchapter and shown on the official property numbering system map.
(1996 Code, § 83-2)
§ 150.22 NUMBERS ACCORDING TO FRONTAGE.
A separate number shall be assigned for each 20 feet in the central business district and each 50 feet in all other areas of the town.
(1996 Code, § 83-3)
§ 150.23 NUMBERS ASSIGNED TO FRONT ENTRANCES.
Each principal building shall bear the number assigned to the frontage on which the front entrance is located. In case a principal building is occupied by more than one business or dwelling unit, each separate front entrance of such building shall bear a separate number.
(1996 Code, § 83-4)
§ 150.24 POSTING AND SIZE NUMBERS.
Numerals indicating the official numbers from each principal building or each front entrance to such building shall be posted in a manner as to be visible and distinguishable from the street on which the property is located. Buildings not visible from the street shall have the numbers posted at the street. These numbers shall be at least four inches high and one-half inch wide.
(1996 Code, § 83-5) (Ord. passed 4-9-2024)
§ 150.25 ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TO MAINTAIN SYSTEM.
The Town Zoning Administrator shall be responsible for maintaining the property numbering system. He or she shall establish all numbers and, in the performance of this duty, shall follow the provisions of this subchapter.
(1996 Code, § 83-6)
§ 150.26 DUTY OF OWNERS.
It shall be the duty of the owner of every principal building, as defined in § 153.007, as amended, to learn the correct number assignment of the owner’s property, as designated, from the town and to obtain and, within 60 days of the date of the adoption of this section, to fasten such number upon the owner’s building as provided in this chapter. In the case of newly constructed buildings, it shall be the duty of the owner to obtain and, within 60 days of the date of the completion of construction, to fasten such number upon the owner’s building as provided in this subchapter.
(1996 Code, § 83-7) (Ord. passed 5-13-2008)
§ 150.27 COMPLIANCE WITH SYSTEM.
All numbers of property and buildings not in conformity with the provisions of the uniform property numbering system of this subchapter shall be changed to conform to the system herein adopted and the numbers established by the town within 90 days after receipt of notice that such change is necessary.
(1996 Code, § 83-8)
§ 150.28 STREET NAMES.
Names of streets within the town, as shown on the map identified by the title “Town of Independence,” are hereby declared to be the official names of such streets, unless officially changed by subsequent action of Town Council.
(1996 Code, § 83-9)
§ 150.29 VIOLATIONS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this subchapter or to fail to comply with any directive issued by town pursuant to and in compliance with this chapter. If, after official notification from the town to comply with the system, the owner does not comply within the 90 days allowed, the owner shall be punished as provided in § 10.99, until compliance is achieved.
(1996 Code, § 83-10) Penalty, see § 10.99